London assembly member for North East London — fighting your corner at City Hall

13th August 2015

9:42am

The Mayor needs to do more to protect the creative industries of Hackney

I was incredibly angry to hear of the enormous rent increase of 400% that has hit The Trampery, a haven for new fashion talent in London. It’s clear more needs to be done to protect local people and industries from these kinds of stratospheric rent increases.

Losing this vibrant asset would not only hit the designers using the facilities, it would have a wider impact on the local creative industries on which Hackney prides itself.

In the past, Boris Johnson has readily acknowledged the valuable contribution the fashion industry makes to our economy. But his warm words will fall on deaf ears unless it is matched by action to solve the real issues creative industries in our city are facing when it comes to finding suitable workspace.

Without more powers for councils to protect our capital’s vital industries they will continue to face the threat of extortionate rent increases which threaten to force entrepreneurs to locate elsewhere, leaving London a barren homogenous creative wasteland.